According to the latest news release from German sources, the accident in the St. Gotthard Tunnel involved a truck that was traveling without a permit or license. <BR>Hence, the driver was operating illegally. <BR>The number deaths still officially stands at 11 people. But some of the wreckage has not been inspected. Temperatures were so high that steel melted and fused with steel. <BR>There is also some concern that hazardous materials involved in the collision may still be dangerous to humans despite the intense heat. <BR>The tunnel will not reopen any time soon. <BR> <BR>

Are there still 80 or more people missing?

BC: <BR> <BR>Swiss newspapers report, as per today there some 16 people are missing.

Watched this on the news while in Germany. It was a couple days before anyone could even get in. What a terrible tragedy and a horror for the victims' families. With driving so well controlled, it's hard to imagine that someone could get away without permits or licenses.

I know it is hard to believe that a truck could travel in Western Europe without the necessary permits. I rescanned the article and this is the original phrase: ... habe nicht über die noetigen Betriebsbewilligungen verfügt <BR>I read it to say that the driver of the truck did not have the required operating approval. The term "illegal", <BR>as we use it, was in the headline of the article. I can provide the URL of the whole article if anyone wants it. <BR>The article cited a source at the International Trannsportation Union in Geneva. <BR>

Unless the driver who was operating the truck without a permit or license was not competent to drive, I don't see that as the issue in this tragedy. <BR> <BR>A driver who was operating a truck <I>with</I> a valid permit or license could still nod off to sleep, have a heart attack, etc. and momentarily swerve across the center line. <BR> <BR>I tend to agree with many of the criticisms I read; it would seem to be a good idea for either one-way tunnels or a barrier between lanes in two-way tunnels. <BR> <BR>

I don't think anything was deleted. There are two threads going on this subject, and they got confused.

Jahoulih, <BR>Thank you! You have restored my faith (and probably Bob's...)! <BR> <BR>Best Wishes, <BR>BC